TECHNICAL FIELD
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This present invention relates, generally, to player tracking systems for gaming
devices and, more particularly, relates to microcontrolled backlit keypad
assemblies for player tracking systems.
BACKGROUND ART
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As technology in the gaming industry progresses, the once traditional
mechanically-driven reel slot machines have been replaced with electronic
counterparts having CRT video displays or the like. These video/electronic
gaming advancements enable the operation of more complex gambling games
which would not otherwise be possible on mechanical-driven gambling
machines. For example, in addition to reel slot machines, it is now common to
observe stand alone or multiple platform video electronic games including
Keno, Blackjack, Poker, Pai Gow, and all the variations thereof, in even the
smallest gaming establishments.
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These electronic game devices are also commonly interconnected to a host
computer through a network system. One primary advantage of these
networked gaming devices is the ability to collectively track the individual
Player use of the gaming devices. Player tracking, for instance, allows the
gaming establishment to monitor individual Player use for accounting and
advertising purposes. Another benefit derived from these networked systems is
the collection of accounting data such as the usage and payout of each gaming
machine which allows the gaming establishment to immediately assess their
profitability. Typical of such patented systems may be found in U.S. Patent
Nos.: 5,470,079 to LeStrange et al.; and 4,283,709 to Lucero et al.
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Generally, each participating Player is issued an individual player tracking card
which incorporates a unique player identification code corresponding to the
customer's account. Upon insertion of the player tracking card into a card
reader at a respective gaming machine, the unique identification code is
extracted from the card and transmitted to the host computer to commence
tracking of the Player's gaming activity. Subsequently, the host computer
updates the customer's account to reflect the new activity. In other systems,
the player tracking card may be in the form of a SMARTCARD, a conventional
debit card or a credit card which may require the manual input of a PIN or
identification code. Such data is typically input through a keypad mechanism
located near the card reader or the gaming machine.
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As an incentive to participate in player tracking and/or returning to the gaming
establishment, complimentary meals, rooms and event tickets are awarded to
the Player based upon their use of the tracking card at the establishment. An
example of such systems include U.S. Patent Nos.: 5,655,961; 5,702,304;
5,741,183; and 5,752,882 to Acres et al.; and 5,761,647 to Boushy. Moreover,
such interconnected gaming has several other advantages which include
competitive gaming machine play, and additional and more complex bonusing
schemes which are generally progressive in nature.
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Player participation is typically proportional to the level of the bonus jackpot.??
That is, the higher the level of the bonus jackpot, the greater the interest
garnered in the bonus games. Accordingly, to entice participation, large
luminescent display devices which display the level of the bonus are often
located above or near the bank of eligible gaming machines. This is especially
beneficial in progressive bonus schemes which continuously update the
incrementally increasing jackpots.
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While these Player enticement techniques are highly successful in most
instances, such displays are not always within the view of the gaming
establishment patron. Thus, potential Players which may otherwise be
persuaded to participate, if informed, may not participate. Simply increasing
the number of luminescent displays is not always feasible due to cost and space
considerations. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an alternative
method to inform potential Players of the current status of the game as an
enticement to increase Player participation.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
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The present invention provides a gaming machine communication device for
use with a gaming machine. The communication device includes a keypad
mechanism having a plurality of keys to input data, and a plurality of
illumination devices operably coupled to a corresponding key for independent
illumination thereof. A microcontroller device is coupled to the plurality of
illumination devices for illumination thereof in a manner visually
communicating information relating to a game accessible by the gaming
machine.
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Accordingly, the illuminated keys of the keypad mechanism are employed as a
means of communicating information to a potential Player preferably
pertaining to a current status of the accessible game. For example the pattern,
sequence or color of the illuminated keys of the keypad mechanism may
indicate to a Player the level or amount of a jackpot.
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In one embodiment, the microcontroller device is configured to independently
illuminate each individual illumination device thereof depending upon the state
of the current status. The keys, for instance, are preferably translucent for back
lighting thereof, and the illumination devices are provided by Light Emitting
Diodes (LED). The light emitting diodes are multi-color LEDs adapted to
independently illuminate in one color in a first attract sequence corresponding
to a first bonus level of the game, and illuminate in another color in a second
attract sequence corresponding to a second bonus level of the game.
Alternatively, both colors may be illuminated to yield a third color which
corresponds to a third bonus level.
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In another aspect of the present invention, a keypad assembly is provided for
use with a gaming machine to input data. The keypad assembly includes a
keypad having a plurality of keys to input data; and a plurality of illumination
devices each operably coupled to a corresponding key for independent
illumination thereof. Each of the illumination devices are adapted to cooperate
with a microcontroller device for independent illumination in a manner visually
communicating information relating to the status of a game accessible by the
gaming machine.
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In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a gaming system includes a
plurality of gaming machines, and a host computer interconnecting the gaming
machines for an interconnected bonus game accessible from each gaming
machine. The gaming system further includes a plurality of keypad
mechanisms coupled to a respective gaming machine. In this configuration,
each keypad mechanism includes a plurality of keys to input data, and a
plurality of illumination devices each operably coupled to a corresponding key
for independent illumination thereof. A microcontroller device is
communicably coupled between the respective plurality of illumination devices
and the host computer for illumination of the illumination device in a manner
visually communicating information relating to the current status of the bonus
game.
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In still another aspect of the present invention, a player tracking system is
provided for tracking Players of a plurality of gaming machines interconnected
to a host computer. The tracking system includes a player tracking device
adapted to monitor the game play of a Player, and a keypad assembly having a
plurality of keys to input data for use in the player tracking device. A plurality
of illumination devices are operably coupled to a corresponding key for
independent illumination thereof. The player tracking system further includes a
microcontroller device coupled to the plurality of illumination devices for
illumination thereof in a manner visually communicating information relating
to the current status of a bonus game accessible by the gaming machine.
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A card reader may be provided for reading a player identification card inserted
in a card reader opening of the card reader. The keypad may further be
arranged in a matrix, which when selectively illuminated, is representative of
the state of the jackpot bonus scheme.
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A method may be included in another aspect of the present invention for
informing potential Players about a status of a game accessible from a gaming
device. The method includes: providing a keypad assembly having a plurality
of keys to input data, and a plurality of illumination devices operably coupled
to a corresponding key for independent illumination thereof. The method
further includes illuminating the illumination devices in a manner visually
communicating to a potential Player the current status of the game accessible
by the gaming machine.
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This game may include the games resident on the gaming machine, of the
interconnected bonus games which may also be accessed from the gaming
machine. The method may further include independently illuminating each
individual illumination device thereof depending upon the state of the current
status. Before illuminating the illumination devices, the method may include
communicating the current status of the game from the host computer to a
respective microcontroller of each keypad assembly for illumination of the
illuminating devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The method and assembly of the present invention has other objects and
features of advantage which will be more readily apparent from the following
description of the Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention and the appended
claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
- FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a conventional gaming machine
incorporating a keypad assembly constructed in accordance with the present
invention.
- FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a keypad of the keypad assembly of
FIGURE 1.
- FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of a player tracking system for a
gaming machine which incorporates the keypad assembly of the present
invention.
- FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the keypad assembly of the present
invention.
- FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the keypad assembly of the present
invention.
- FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevation view, in cross-section, of a
key component of the keypad assembly taken substantially along the plane of
the line 6-6 in FIGURE 2.
- FIGURES 7A-7D are a series of top plan views of the keypad assembly of
FIGURE 2 illustrating a sequence of illumination patterns corresponding to
higher jackpot levels.
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BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
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While the present invention will be described with reference to a few specific
embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be
construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present
invention can be made to the preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art
without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended claims. It will be noted here that for a better understanding, like
components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various
figures.
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Attention is now directed to FIGURES 1-4, and 6 where a gaming machine
communication device is illustrated for use with a gaming machine 30. The
communication device includes a keypad assembly 20 having a plurality of
keys components 25 to input data, and a plurality of illumination devices 26
operably coupled to a corresponding key for independent illumination thereof.
A microcontroller device, generally designated 36, is coupled to the plurality of
illumination devices 26 for illumination thereof in a manner visually
communicating information relating to a game accessible by the gaming
machine 30.
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Accordingly, the keypad assembly itself is employed as a visual aid to inform
the Player or potential Player about particular information relating to the
current status or state of a game accessible from the gaming machine. For
example, the luminescent keys of the keypad assembly may be illuminated in a
particular sequence or manner to inform the Player about particular details of
the bonus jackpot game. Thus, the Player may then be enticed to participate in
the bonus game through visual contact with the keypad assembly 20, as
opposed to requiring direct viewing contact with the above-indicated large
luminescent displays for persuasion.
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In another example of use, the communication device of the present invention
may be employed to indicated that a particular machine has recently awarded a
jackpot within a predetermined number of plays, to indicate a "hot" machine.
For instance, the key components 25 of the keypad assembly 20 may be
independently or collectively illuminated in an attract sequence to inform a
potential Player that a particular gaming machine is still "hot". In contrast, the
key components 25 may be independently or collectively illuminated in another
attract sequence in the event that particular gaming machine has not awarded a
jackpot within a predetermined number of plays. This may be employed to
indicate a machine which has not delivered a jackpot in a while, and is thus
ready to award one soon.
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As is apparent from the above examples, the informational keypad assembly of
the present invention may be applied to the independent games resident on a
particular gaming device, and/or may be applied to the interconnected bonus
games through the networked host computer.
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The luminescent keypad assembly 20 of the present invention is particularly
suitable for use with a player tracking system 28 which, in the gaming industry,
is typically employed for tracking Players of a plurality of gaming machines 30.
Briefly, as shown in the schematic diagram of FIGURE 3, each gaming
machine 30 is electrically interfaced to a central player tracking or host system
computer 32 through a respective a player tracking module 31. The player
tracking system 28 further includes card reader 21, keypad assembly 20 and a
display device 33 which collectively allow the Player to interface with the
system computer 32. Once the Player's identification is verified by either
manual input of their PIN code, or through an issued player identification card
22 which itself incorporates a unique personal identification code, the keypad
assembly 20 of the present invention will allow the player tracking module 31
to obtain information from the Player through key component presses and to
assess the validation of the particular information through the visualization of
the backlit key components 25.
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Briefly, it will be understood that the details of the circuitry and electronics of
the present invention, such as the microcontrollers, the application software,
and the like, may be resident in any one of the keypad assemblies 23, the host
system computer 32, the gaming machine itself, or a combination thereof.
However, for clarity and the easy of description, the present invention is
primarily described in reference to the embodiment having the majority of the
componentry resident in the keypad assembly. Most of this componentry,
however, may be adaptable for application with the system computer or the
gaming machine with minimal design change.
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FIGURE 3 illustrates that the player tracking module 31 further includes a
player tracking controller unit 35 which generally performs the functions of
communicating with the gaming machine, communicating with the system,
verifying the card was read correctly, writing data to display. Operably
coupled to this unit 35 is the keypad assembly 20 of the present invention
which enables the Player to interface with the other components of the player
tracking system 28 such as the card reader 21 and the host system computer 32.
The keypad assembly 20 includes an onboard microcontroller 36 which
provides all scanning and decoding functions of the keypad component matrix,
as well as control of the visual feedback of the individual keys. This
microcontroller 36 further operates to interface the player tracking controller
unit 35 with the keypad assembly 23 through a clocked serial interface
(FIGURES 3 and 4). Thus, the keypad assembly 20 of the present invention is
adaptable to interface with existing player tracking controller units through
clocked serial connections, or with new versions of the player tracking
controller units through ASYNC serial communications and I2C serial
communications.
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Referring back to FIGURE 2, the keypad assembly 23 preferably includes
sixteen (16) key components aligned in a 4x4 matrix. It will be appreciated, of
course, that a larger or smaller matrix may be employed. Preferably, keypad
includes ten (10) conventional number key components 25', a "cocktail" key
component 25" and an "attendant" key component 25"'. Four (4)
programmable "function" key components 25"" may be included for optional
functions and features such as the inquiry of information relating jackpot bonus
games, player tracking information or the like. Alternatively, the "cocktail"
key component 25" and the "attendant" key component 25"' can be replaced by
the more conventional "*" and "#" symbols.
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During conventional data input use, the key components 25 may be configured
to illuminate and/or flash when pressed and/or not pressed, such as when the
Player's Personal Identification Number (PIN) is being keyed-in through the
keypad assembly 23. Briefly, and as shown in an exemplary schematic diagram
of the keypad assembly 23 in FIGURE 5, the columns of the keypad matrix are
scanned by embedded software and the row inputs are read in and decoded.
Column selection is performed by the use of two bits from port RA (RA0 and
RA1). These output ports are connected to one half of a 74HC139 2-to-4
decoder. As a binary pattern is presented to the input of the 74HC139, one of
the 4 outputs is driven low. This is the select for a column. As viewed in the
schematic diagram, port RB0 - RB3 are all tied to Vcc with a 10K resistor to
assert a logic true condition until a key component 25 is pressed. When a
particular key component 25 is pressed, the corresponding row is sinked to
ground which causes a zero (0) to be read on the corresponding pin of port
RB(RB0-RB3). Each of the column sinks is isolated with a diode, allowing
any two key components 25 to be depressed simultaneously with full
identification by the microcontroller 36. Should any more than two key
components be depressed simultaneously, an invalid input will be yielded and
should be rejected as invalid input.
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The illumination devices 26, preferably Light Emitting Diodes (LED), are
driven through a similar column selection as that of the keypad components.
As viewed in FIGURE 5, two bits of RA are used to control the other half of
the 74HC139 decoder (RA2 and RA3). The output of the decoder is connected
to a current sink. During reset conditions, the 74HC139 decoder is disabled to
guarantee that a column of LEDs is not selected when the processor is not
active. Port D (RD0-RD7) is used to drive the column source drivers for the
LEDs, which therefore requires the LEDs to be multiplexed. The outputs of
RD are connected to the red and green LED drive signals as follows:
- RD0 =
- Row 0 red
- RD1 =
- Row 0 green
- RD2 =
- Row 1 red
- RD3 =
- Row 1 green
- RD4 =
- Row 2 red
- RD5 =
- Row 2 green
- RD6 =
- Row 3 red
- RD7 =
- Row 3 green
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To provide the desired visual feedback function, each key component 25 is
backlit by a respective illumination device 26 which is operably connected to
the microcontroller 36 of the validation device 27 for on/off operation thereof.
As best viewed in the cross-section of FIGURE 6, each key component 25
preferably includes a flexible translucent or transparent cover 37, such as
silicone rubber or the like, which is formed to house the illumination device 26
therein. Upon illumination, the light generated by the illumination device 26
radiates out of the top of the cylindrical column and through the translucent
cover 37 to provide the backlit visual illumination.
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In the preferred embodiment, each illumination device 26 is provided by a
conventional Light Emitting Diode (LED). Advantageously, these LEDs
reduce power consumption and generate substantially less heat than
incandescent lights. Moreover, LEDs have a longer life span, and require less
maintenance as well. Preferably, these LEDs are tri-color-type LEDs capable
of illumination in red, green or yellow. Other colors may be employed,
however. Additionally, since each multi-color LED is individually addressable,
the 4x4 matrix may be illuminated in predetermined patterns, as well as
multiple color schemes.
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Using a set of animation tables residing in code ROM, the individually
addressable LEDs can be collectively flashed or illuminated in a patterned or
colored attract sequence which corresponds to a particular status of a game.
Depending upon the current status or state of a game, the central host computer
32 or the player tracking controller 35 may communicate with each
microcontroller 36 of each keypad assembly 20 to send instructions about
which animation mode to display. Such an attract sequence may be
automatically activated during non-use of the keypad or when the card reader is
in non-use. Upon detection of use of a key component closure or insertion of
an identification card, the microcontroller 36 can abort the attract sequence.
Additionally, more than one animation mode may be included depending upon
the circumstance, such as during bonus play.
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The communication device 10, therefore, utilizes these attract sequences to
animate the keypad components 25 when the keypad assembly 20 is not in use.
These attract sequences are employed as a means to visually communicate
information relating to the status or state of the games accessible at the gaming
machine 30 (i.e., the games internally resident on the gaming machine and/or
the bonus game accessible through the host computer). In this manner, at least
one or a plurality of key components 25 can be illuminated upon the occurrence
of a predetermined event. For example, upon the occurrence of a first event,
such as the jackpot reaching or surpassing a first bonus level, the key
components 25 may be illuminated in a first attract sequence and color scheme
simulating a thermometer or the like (E.g., flash or illuminate the key
components 25 in "yellow"). Upon the level of the jackpot increasing and
surpassing a second bonus level, a second attract sequence may commence to
change colors, and/or patterns (E.g., flash or illuminate the key components 25
in "red").
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As shown in the attract sequences of FIGURES 7A to 7D, the jackpot amounts
may be expressed by flashing or illuminating the entire row of key components
25 either individually, simultaneously or in the same or different colors, or
sequentially illuminate the key components from left to right or right to left.
By way of example, as shown in FIGURE 7A, a relatively small jackpot
amount (a minimum first bonus level) may be expressed (the first attract
sequence) by simultaneously illuminating the entire bottom row 38 of key
components 25 (i.e., the "F4", "cocktail" "0" and "attendant" key components).
As the jackpot incrementally increases in value, upon surpassing or reaching a
second bonus level, a second attract sequence may commence. As shown in
FIGURE 7B, for instance, a second row 40 of key components 25 may be
simultaneously illuminated (i.e., the "F3", "7" "8" and "9" key components) to
indicate a lower middle range of jackpots.
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Referring now to FIGURES 7C and 7D, once the jackpot incrementally
surpasses or reaches a third and fourth bonus level, a third attract sequence and
a fourth attract sequence may commence, respectively. Similar to the first and
second attract sequences, the third and fourth attract sequences may include
simultaneously illuminating the third row 41 (i.e., the "F2", "4" "5" and "6"
key components) and the fourth row 42 (i.e., the "F1", "1" "2" and "3" key
components) to indicate an upper middle range and top range of jackpots,
respectively. Moreover, the third and fourth attract sequences may include
different color schemes, such as in the color "red", while the first and second
attract sequences may be in the colors "green" and "yellow", respectively. The
fourth attract sequence, for example, may also include a composite or
sequential pattern of illumination sequences from the first attract sequence
(FIGURE 7A) through the fourth attract sequence (FIGURE 7D). In addition,
this sequential pattern may change colors to simulate a thermometer reaching a
higher level (E.g., "red").
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In another example, the individual key components 25 may sequentially
illuminate from left-to-right and/or from right-to-left starting at the bottom row
38 and ending at any key component 25 at either the second row 40, the third
row 41 or the top row 42, depending upon the level of the jackpot. Multiple
color schemes may be applied as well.
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Incorporated in the keypad assembly 20 is software which performs the
following functions for the keypad assembly 23. These functions include
receive commands from and send key press information to the player tracking
controller unit 35. Moreover, the keypad software further functions to
acknowledge receipt of commands from the player tracking controller, decode
and debounce key switch activation, and process commands received from the
player tracking controller unit 35.
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The control of all back lighting of keypad assembly 23, as executed by the
microcontroller 36, is further operated by the keypad software. Briefly, each
key component 25 can be lit when released and/or lit when pressed, and/or each
key can be flashing when released and/or flashing when pressed. The keypad
software further includes the set of the above-mentioned attract sequences
which animate the key colors when the keypad is not in use. Attract sequences
can be selected using the command language.
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More specifically, in accordance with the attributes and subroutines, an
attribute table resides in on-chip RAM which comprises 16 attribute bytes, each
of which includes a 16-byte array residing in on-chip RAM which comprises 16
attribute bytes, each of which corresponds to one key component 25. The
respective attribute byte for a key component determines whether the LED is
illuminated when pressed, not illuminated when not pressed, the color of
illumination if lit, and whether the respective LED is flashed when pressed
and/or not pressed.
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At a command interface, the commands are received from the host computer 32
via a clocked serial interface. Preferably, this is at rate of 9600 baud, but may
vary in accordance with the state of the field. These commands include a
define keypad attributes command, an attract mode command and a stop attract
mode command. Each command is composed of an address (wakeup bit set)
byte; a command code byte; a length of command byte, including address,
command code, length byte, all data and both CRC bytes; an optional data byte;
a CRC low byte; and a CRC high byte. Furthermore, each byte of a command
consists of a start bit, 8 data bits, a 9th bit called the wakeup bit, and a stop bit.
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In a Keypad Status Reporting routine, whenever a key component 25 is
pressed, an ASCII code corresponding to the key component is sent to the host
system computer 32. If a command is being received from the host computer
system when the key component is pressed, the ASCII code is not sent until
command reception is completed. The keypad status reporting is handled by a
main loop code, to be discussed below. A single-byte buffer will contain a key
code if the interrupt service routine has detected a key closure. Another
subroutine NEWK determines if the key closure is that of a new key
component. In the event that the key closure is a new key, a subroutine
ASCTRANS is called to send the ASCII code to the host system computer 32.
The single-byte buffer is then set to zero to indicate that it is ready to handle
another key component.
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During an initialization routine after a power-up, a subroutine INIT_PIC
commences to perform three initialization functions. These functions include
the programming and initialization of the I/O ports, and the programming of a
timer 0 to overflow every 10 milliseconds. Finally, the attribute table is
initialized with default keypad attributes such as: off when the key component
is not pressed; and a solid yellow illumination of the LEDs when a
corresponding key component is pressed.
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After initialization is complete, the main loop code accesses two subroutines.
A CK_BUFFER subroutine checks if a new key component has been pressed.
A SENDKEY subroutine is then accessed to send the ASCII code to the host
system computer. Secondly, a CK_COMMAND subroutine checks for a start
bit from the host computer system. Should the start bit be detected, this
subroutine subsequently receives a byte from the host computer system. If the
byte received is the last byte of a command, the CK_COMMAND subroutine
interprets and executes the command.
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Timer 0 is configured to continuously interrupt the microcontroller 36 at 10 ms
intervals. During each interrupt, the keypad assembly 23 is scanned, and any
backlighting is commenced or refreshed. Further tasks are preferably
performed at this time include flash timing, and an attract mode animation,
which are discussed henceforth.
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During keypad scanning, each column of the keypad assembly 23 is scanned at
10 millisecond intervals by the Timer 0 interrupt service routine. A variable
contains the column number currently being scanned, and is incremented at
each timer 0 interrupt. The column number is used to enable a key column via
the microcontroller output Port A. Key closures are then detected by reading
the microcontroller input port B. When a key component 25 closure is
detected, its code is stored in the single-byte key buffer, but only if the single-byte
key buffer is 0. In the event the single-byte key buffer already contains a
key code, this code will not overwritten. The main loop code will translate the
key code into an ASCII code and send it to the host system computer 32. As
previously described, single-byte key buffer is then set to zero which indicates
to the interrupt service routine that another key code can be sent.
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Immediately after the keypad scan, backlighting of the corresponding keypad
LEDs commences in the key column being scanned. The keypad attributes are
fetched from the attribute array and the LEDs are programmed with the
appropriate color depending on whether a key component is pressed or not. If
the key attribute indicates flashing, and the flasher bit is "OFF", the
corresponding LED is turned off.
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As above-indicated, flash timing of the keypad assembly commences during
each interrupt interval. A subroutine BLINK is accessed which complements
all the flasher bits in the keypad attribute table. This is preferably performed
about every 116th interval, which yields a flash interval of about 1.2 seconds.
Another predetermined number of intervals may be employed of course.
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In an attract mode, the key component LEDs are animated using a set of
animation tables which reside in code ROM. Each frame of the animation
sequence consists of four (4) bytes. Each byte contains the 2-bit color code for
four (4) key lights. The frames are preferably advanced every thirty-two (32)
Timer 0 interrupt periods for an animation speed of 320 ms per frame.
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To determine which animation table to use, depending upon the gaming event
or occurrence, an animation mode is downloaded from the central host
computer 32 or the player tracking controller 35 to the keypad microcontroller
36. A subroutine ANIMATE is preferably called every twenty-one (21) timer 0
interrupt periods to advance the frame. The ANIMATE subroutine retrieves
the next frame from the animation table and employs this data to override the
keypad attributes. Upon detection of a key component closure, the attract mode
is aborted.
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In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is
provided for informing potential Players about a status of a game accessible
from a gaming device 30 including providing a keypad assembly 20 positioned
proximate to or on the gaming device 30. The keypad assembly 20 includes a
plurality of keys 25 to input data, and a plurality of illumination devices 26
operably coupled to a corresponding key 25 for independent illumination
thereof. The method further includes illuminating the illumination devices 26
in a manner visually communicating to a potential Player the current status of
the game accessible by the gaming device 30.
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The method preferably includes the step of independently illuminating each
individual illumination device 26 thereof depending upon the state of the
current status. This is performed by illuminating a respective LED in one color
in a first attract sequence corresponding to a first bonus level of the game, and
illuminating the respective LED in another color in a second attract sequence
corresponding to a second bonus level of the game.
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In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for
attracting potential Players to participate in a networked gaming system
including: providing a plurality of gaming devices 30 interconnected through a
host computer 32 interconnecting the gaming devices 30 for access to an
interconnected game from each gaming device 30, and providing a plurality of
keypad assemblies 23 coupled to a corresponding gaming device 30. Each
keypad assembly 20 includes a plurality of keys 25 to input data, and a plurality
of illumination devices 26 operably coupled to a corresponding key for
independent illumination thereof. The method further includes illuminating the
illumination devices 26 in a manner visually communicating to a potential
Player the current status of the game accessible by the gaming device 30.
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In the preferred embodiment, before illuminating the illumination devices 26,
the present invention includes communicating the current status of the game
from the host computer 32 to a respective microcontroller 36 of each keypad
assembly 20 for illumination of the illumination devices 26.
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Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for
purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certain changes
and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
For instance, although the specification has described a keypad assembly and
card reader on gaming machines, such interface may be used on other casino
stations as well. For example, a pad assembly of the type described above may
also be used with blackjack or craps tables. Further, the systems of this
invention are not limited to conventional casino gaming machines and stations,
but may include other machines such as amusement machines, televisions,
vending machines, etc. In addition, the reader will understand that the
terminals as describe herein can be with gaming machines that are not
necessarily located in a casino or connected to a LAN. Thus, in some
embodiments, the gaming machines incorporating the keypad assembly of this
invention may be stand-alone machines located in bars, drug stores, or other
establishments.
